Minnesota Legislature
House lawmakers consider updated sales tax plan to aid Hennepin Healthcare
By Rob Hubbard
Hennepin County Medical Center is known for being the destination for Minnesotans who have suffered terrible physical traumas, but now the state’s healthcare system could suffer a trauma of its own if the hospital closes.
That seems to be the consensus opinion of legislators on both sides of the aisle. The question is: How can the state best go about fixing the financial difficulties the hospital is currently enduring and help restore a stable revenue stream that will keep it afloat for years to come?
The latest suggestion comes in the form of a delete-all amendment to HF4841, sponsored by Rep. Esther Agbaje (DFL-Mpls).
It would extend and increase the current sales tax in Hennepin County from 0.15% to 0.75% (down from the 1% proposed in the original bill). And it would establish a hospital stabilization program and authorize grants for Hennepin Healthcare, modify its governance provisions and establish an advisory task force for its governance and financing.
Recent Dailies
House legislation could alter environmental review process for large-scale livestock operations
By Tim Walker
The number of family-run farms in Minnesota has been shrinking for several decades.
Reasons for this decline are many, and for small family-run dairy farms, a major reason i...
Measure seeks to end long detour through non-credit coursework
By Margaret Stevens
A student who spent four years going to school in hopes of completing a nursing degree recently learned 59 earned credits will not count toward that goal.
Her developmental ...
House Republicans propose $1 billion property tax cut as part of ‘North Star Comeback’ budget
By Winter Keefer
Republicans want to pass the largest tax cut in Minnesota history.
Ringing in at $3.8 billion in reductions, House Speaker Lisa Demuth (R-Cold Spring) and caucus leaders ann...
DFL bill outlines $60K minimum teacher salary, statewide insurance pools
By Graham Johnson Last year, Minnesota schools paid nearly $1.4 billion for health insurance, dental insurance and tax-advantaged health arrangements. These rising health care costs for educa...House lawmakers present plan to repurpose ballpark tax in HCMC rescue bid
By Rob Hubbard
When the House Taxes Committee hosted a hearing on March 18 on the fragile financial health of Hennepin County Medical Center, the committee’s co-chair, Rep. Greg Davids (R-Pres...
Study group would waylay governor’s proposal for unit-based billing
By Winter Keefer It’s a delicate balance trying to address fraud while also ensuring continuity of care. This continuing throughline was once again discussed in the House Human Services Finance ...Bill proposes state project prevailing wage database to increase efficiency, curb wage theft
By Mike Cook
Greater efficiency, transparency and integrity are the key components of a bill to create a payroll reporting portal and database to compile and make available payroll informati...
University of Minnesota seeking $84 million from lawmakers for new St. Paul Campus Center
By Graham Johnson
More than a quarter of the University of Minnesota’s facility needs are on its St. Paul campus due to the condition of the 60-plus-years-old buildings there.
The current cam...
Economic development panel ponders $18 million boost for bioincentive program
By Margaret Stevens Claims on Minnesota’s Bioincentive Program have outpaced available funding, prompting lawmakers to consider an infusion of cash to close the gap. A proposal that would alloc...$4 million sought for school safety threat assessment pilot project
By Tim Walker
Outside the Legislature, Rep. Ben Bakeberg (R-Jordan) is the principal at Jordan Middle School.
That firsthand knowledge has led him to believe that deploying safety threat ...
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How short are the Legislature's short sessions?
By Lisa Kaczke
Rep. Ron Kresha (R-Little Falls) was ready to end the session March 25, making the motion to adjourn sine die. But not enough of his colleagues shared that sentiment, defeating ...
Stable budget outlook projects $3.7 billion surplus now, no deficit in next biennium
By Lisa Kaczke
The projected surplus for Fiscal Years 2026-27 is now higher than it was in the November estimate, and no deficit is projected for the next biennium.
“Minnesota’s budge...
